Joan C. Barber, 70
Joan C. Barber, 70, passed away of lung cancer Wednesday, March 15, 2006, at Brendan House in Kalispell.
She was born Feb. 15, 1936, in Detroit to Charles and Margaret (Finke) VanDekerck. Joan received her early education in Detroit before moving with her family to Birmingham, Mich., where she graduated from high school. She went right on to attend McCauly School for Nursing in Pontiac, Mich., graduating in 1956.
On Jan. 2, 1957, Joan married William 'Bill' Barber in Birmingham.
Joan worked for a short time at the Sparrow Hospital in Lansing, Mich., while Bill was attending college at Michigan State. The couple then moved back to Birmingham, where they began their family. To this union three children were born, Kathleen, William and Daniel. Until 1975, Joan was a stay-at-home mom, raising her children. In 1975 she began working at the Birmingham Allergy Clinic, where she remained until 1983. She was well-known for her painless shots.
In 1983 the family moved to Lakeside, and in 1985 Bill and Joan built and operated the Dairy Queen in Columbia Falls. During the next 15 years, Joan helped operate the Dairy Queen and also volunteered at Kalispell Regional Medical Center and the Lamplighter House. She co-founded and ran Caring Hands, with the proceeds going to projects for Lamplighter House. Joan was also very artistic and especially liked working with watercolors.
She was a very devoted wife, mother, grandmother and friend.
She is survived by her husband, William 'Bill' Barber, of Kalispell; one daughter, Kathleen Hardy-Gelinas, and husband, Matthew, of Kalispell; and two sons, William C. Barber and wife, Barbara, of Rochester, Mich., and Daniel Barber of Whitefish; one sister, Jean Hampson, and husband, Robert, of Douglas, Mich.; a brother-in-law, Thomas Barber, of Marina Del Ray, Calif.; and four grandchildren, Breanna Hardy of Kalispell, and Shelby, Darby, and Ben Barber of Michigan.
Memorial services for Joan will be at 2 p.m. Saturday, March 25, in the Johnson Mortuary Chapel, with Pastor Glenn Burfeind of the Kalispell First Presbyterian Church officiating.
The family suggests memorials be given toward the Art Fund at Lamplighter House, c/o Joan Barber Memorial Fund, 410 Windward Way, Kalispell, MT 59901.
Johnson Mortuary and Crematory is caring for Joan's family.